(WBIR - Downtown Knoxville) The Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries opened up its doors this week to the area's needy as bitter cold temperatures settled in.

KARM said Tuesday night it is working overtime to give a place to stay for anyone who might need it. Volunteers prepared well before people showed up, coming in early, staying late and even staying overnight, to ensure any extra people had a place to sleep.

The University of Tennessee is closed Tuesday, after a powerful storm ripped through East Tennessee, blanketing the area with snow and ice.

The university closed at noon Monday as the winter storm moved through the area.

Initially, UT announced that it would delay classes for two hours Tuesday. However, shortly after making that announcement Tuesday morning, UT officials decided to close the Knoxville campus altogether due to hazardous conditions on roadways.

Attorneys for a University of Tennessee student, who was arrested during a massive party bust near campus, filed a $2.2 million lawsuit against Knox County, the sheriff's office, three deputies, along with several unnamed officers.